In a new 133-page report, scientists from the University of Victoria’s Environmental Law Centre outlined the systemic stifling of scientific research by the government. This is the latest in a line of complaints that scientific journals and researchers have alleged for years: government-funded researchers must jump through all sorts of hoops into order to share their findings.

Canada faces all sorts of serious issues environmental issues, from oil sands development to climate change. The public needs to be as informed as possible to be able to hold their leaders and their decisions accountable. But that’s not possible as long as Harper’s government requires scientists to obtain permission from PR officials before talking publicly about their research.